From 139-5, Essex skipper James Foster struck the ball cleanly and brought up his own half century and his side's 200 with a lofted cover drive off Thomas in the 27th over.

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Some fans were lucky enough to take home a souvenir, like 22 year-old James Wagstaff from Harlow in Essex who caught one of drummer Ronnie Vannucci's drumsticks.

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The selectors have named three wicketkeepers in the squad with Essex's James Foster, who has not played international cricket for seven years, joining Matt Prior and Steven Davies.

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An early target was a Republican, Essex County executive James Treffinger, who would be sentenced to 41 months in prison for covering up the awarding of contracts in return for campaign contributions and paying campaign workers with taxpayer funds.

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Will Jefferson has the ability to improve on last season's moderate figures, 20-year-old Mark Pettini is highly-regarded by Graham Gooch and England's decision to select Chris Read and Geraint Jones as their two wicket-keepers means Essex benefit from the availability of James Foster.

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But James Middlebrook will bolster the Northants' spin attack after joining from Essex.

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But that was to be the last of Kent's successes as James Foster stayed with Westley until the close, which came with Essex still needing a further 153 to avoid the follow on.

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The Essex left-hander was batting with the fast-improving nightwatchman James Anderson when the day began, and the unlikely England pairing sensibly opted for survival above all else.

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The youngster was stumped by James Foster off Tim Phillips and James Hockley was bowled by Danish Kaneria soon after, but this was to be Essex's final success of the day.

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